Clothes Drying Device and Method for Drying an Item of Clothing

ABSTRACT

A clothes drying device includes a porous skeleton and an inflatable balloon placed over the porous skeleton. The balloon receives a wet item of clothing placed over the balloon and has an inlet for receiving air added into the balloon. The skeleton, the balloon and the wet item of clothing form an assembly having a size permitting it to be placed entirely into a clothes dryer drum and dried. A method for drying an item of clothing includes providing a porous skeleton and an inflatable balloon placed over the skeleton, placing a wet item of clothing over the balloon, adding air through an inlet of the balloon, and placing an assembly formed of the skeleton, the balloon and the wet item of clothing entirely into a clothes dryer drum. The wet item of clothing is dried over the balloon and the skeleton in the clothes dryer drum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/209,504, filed Jun. 11, 2021; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a clothes drying device and a method for drying an item of clothing for reducing or eliminating wrinkles in clothing being dried in a commercial dryer.

Description of the Related Art

U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2021/0054561 A1 and 2019/0382946 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,892,047 and 245,361, French Patent Application FR 2364287 A1, German Patent Application DE 3514552 A1, Korean Patent KR 101748416 B1 and Chinese Patent Application CN 107142699 A all relate to variations of permeable air bags or balloons for supporting garments from within.

Similarly, German Patent Application DE 3602363 A1 discloses a carrier for a drying appliance in which an item of clothing is placed over a tube 8 connected to a drying balloon 9.

Also similar is International Publication WO 03044261 A1 in which an inflatable body is covered by an air-permeable casing 8 for protection.

Korean Patent KR 101108043 B1 discloses a drying machine with a cavity in which hangers are hung on a pole, and a duct and an injection device lead to the cavity. A tube 25 connected to a hanger has holes 22 a for air.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,961 provides an inflatable hanger in a cabinet.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,648 discloses an inflatable member 76 surrounded by a flexible member 80 formed of netting. An item of clothing is placed between the inflatable member 76 and the flexible netting 80 and a dryer 34 blows air into the device.

No prior art is known which has a skeleton inside a balloon and which is placed inside a dryer with an item of clothing placed over the balloon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a clothes drying device and a method for drying an item of clothing, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which reduce or eliminate wrinkles in clothing being dried in a commercial dryer.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a clothes drying device, comprising a porous skeleton, and an inflatable balloon placed over the porous skeleton, the inflatable balloon configured to receive a wet item of clothing placed over the inflatable balloon, and the inflatable balloon having an inlet configured to receive air pumped or otherwise added into the inflatable balloon, the porous skeleton, the inflatable balloon and the wet item of clothing forming an assembly having a size permitting the assembly to be placed entirely into a dryer drum and dried.

The present invention, in which the skeleton is placed inside the balloon, is the opposite of the structure known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,648.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the inflatable balloon is formed of latex, which can easily stretch over the skeleton and is resistant to the heat present in a clothes dryer drum. This is done by stretching the inlet over the skeleton. However, it is contemplated that the balloon and the skeleton disposed therein will be manufactured and sold as a set so that the consumer merely needs to place the garment or item of clothing over the balloon and inflate it. Thus, a material such as polyvinyl chloride resin or another suitable material can be formed around the skeleton with panels and gussets being fused as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,479. The shape of the panels and gussets can approximate the shape of the item of clothing to be dried.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the skeleton is formed of rigid plastic or plastic-coated wire being resistant to heat produced in a clothes dryer drum and having a multiplicity of openings being permeable to air. It is important for air to be able to freely pass through the openings for drying the item of clothing.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the inflatable balloon has an inflation inlet configured to be filled by a pump and a one-way valve preventing an undesired escape of air from the balloon. The balloon may also be inflated by mouth. Additionally, the balloon may remain filled with air when a dried item of clothing is removed from the balloon and another wet item is placed over the balloon. Such a valve is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,479.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the skeleton has a shape configured to receive a shirt, shorts, pants, a dress, a skirt or any other item of clothing.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the skeleton has legs and extensions to be snap-fitted onto the legs for drying long pants. In this way, one skeleton may be used for both pants and shorts. Similarly, the skeleton may have sleeves for drying a short-sleeve dress and extensions to be snap-fitted onto the sleeves for drying a long-sleeve dress.

With the objects of the invention in view there is also provided a method for drying an item of clothing, the method comprising providing a porous skeleton, placing an inflatable balloon over the porous skeleton, placing a wet item of clothing over the inflatable balloon, adding air through an inlet of the inflatable balloon, placing an assembly formed of the porous skeleton, the inflatable balloon and the wet item of clothing entirely into a clothes dryer drum, and drying the wet item of clothing over the inflatable balloon and the skeleton in the clothes dryer drum. Heated air is thus circulated through the openings in the skeleton as the assembly is tossed around in the dryer drum, at the same time, the heated air presses the inflatable balloon (which may expand due to heat) against an inner surface of the item of clothing and reduces or prevents wrinkles from occurring as the item of clothing is dried.

In accordance with another mode of the invention, an electrically, preferably battery-operated or manual pump is used to fill the balloon with the air through the inlet of the balloon or the balloon is filled by mouth, and a one-way valve prevents an undesired escape of air from the balloon. Air mattresses and floats, etc., use such pumps and one-way or check valves built directly into the inlet opening.

In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, the dried item of clothing is removed from the balloon, a further wet item of clothing is placed over the balloon without deflating the balloon, and the further item of clothing is dried in the dryer drum.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a clothes drying device and a method for drying an item of clothing, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a dryer drum in which a skeleton and an inflatable balloon are disposed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shirt covering the skeleton and the inflatable balloon;

FIG. 3 is a front-elevational view of a skeleton for drying shorts or pants;

FIG. 4 is a front-elevational view of a skeleton for drying short-sleeve or long-sleeve dresses; and

FIG. 5 is a front-elevational view of a skeleton for drying skirts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a skeleton 1 which is formed of rigid, heat-resistant plastic or plastic-coated wire which has a multiplicity of openings through which air can easily flow. The bottom of the skeleton 1 is preferably circular or oval. A balloon 2, preferably formed of latex material, completely covers the skeleton 1 and has an inflation inlet and one-way valve like a beach ball, or a tube 3. A pump P is used to fill the balloon 2 with air. The valve V, which may be at the bottom of the tube 3, prevents the air from escaping from the balloon 2 until it is desired to let it escape. The tube 3 may be shorter or eliminated. The pump may be a hand or foot pump or an electric or battery-operated pump, like those used to fill inflatable beach balls, mattresses and rafts or the balloon may be filled by mouth.

As is seen in FIG. 2 , during operation, a shirt 6 is removed from a washing machine or from hand washing in a wet condition. The shirt is placed over the balloon 2 and thus also over the skeleton 1 and the shirt is buttoned in place. The shirt may be held in place by one or more straps 6, 7 attached to the balloon as shown in FIG. 1 . The straps have snaps between which the bottom of the shirt is clamped. Alternatively, clips may be used to clamp the shirt to the balloon. Hot or room-temperature air is then supplied into the tube 3, freely flows through the skeleton 1 and presses the balloon against the inside of the wet shirt. Fabric softener or wrinkle releaser spray or fabric softener sheets may be added to the dryer drum or sprayed onto the garment and starch may be sprayed onto the collar and/or cuffs of the shirt.

The assembly of the skeleton 1 covered by the balloon 2 as well as the buttoned shirt 6 is then placed in a drum 4 of a clothes dryer 5, preferably a large commercial dryer, and the shirt is dried while the balloon presses outwardly on the shirt and reduces or prevents wrinkles in the shirt as the shirt dries in the dryer 5. Clothes dryers normally use air at temperatures between 50 and 60° C. Latex melts at approximately 120° C. and polyvinyl chloride has a heat deflection temperature of 92° C. and a melting temperature of at least 100° C., so that there is no danger of the balloon melting. The latex balloon stretches adequately so that it may be pulled over the skeleton at the neck or tube. The assembly may also be manufactured with the skeleton already inside the balloon and ready for use by a consumer. The skeleton 1 may have shorter sleeves and extensions to be snap-fitted thereon for long-sleeve shirts, as described below for pants and dresses.

Forms of skeletons may also be used for other items of clothing, such as shorts, pants, dresses, skirts and jackets.

In particular, a skeleton 10 shown in FIG. 3 is used to dry shorts or pants. The skeleton 10 has a body 11 with two short legs 12 for drying shorts. Removable extensions 13 permit the same skeleton 10 to be used for drying pants. The extensions 13 are attached to the short legs 12 with snap-fit connections. Alternatively, a body 11 with permanent one-piece long legs may be used for pants, instead of a body with short legs 12 and extensions 13 as shown. The bottoms of the legs of the skeleton 10 are circular or oval.

FIG. 4 shows a skeleton 20 for drying dresses. The bottom of the skeleton 20 is circular or oval. It is understood that the bottom of the skeleton 20 may have a smaller diameter for drying dresses which are not as full. The skeleton 20 has a body 21 with short sleeves 22 and extensions 23 snap-fitted onto the short sleeves 22. As in the embodiment of FIG. 3 , a body 21 with permanent one-piece long sleeves may be used for long-sleeve dresses, instead of a body with short sleeves 22 and extensions 23 as shown.

FIG. 5 shows a skeleton 30 for drying skirts. The bottom of the skeleton 30 is circular or oval. It is understood that the bottom of the skeleton 30 may have a smaller diameter for drying skirts which are not as full. The skeleton 30 has a body 31.

In a manner similar to that described for FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5 , the method of the invention is carried out by removing an item of clothing, that is shorts, pants, dresses or skirts, from a washing machine, or after hand-washing, and placing the item of clothing over the balloon which already covers the skeleton. Closures, such as buttons, zippers, snaps or hooks on the items of clothing are then closed and may be sprayed with fabric softener to reduce or eliminate wrinkles. The balloon is then filled with air until it presses outwardly against the item of clothing from the inside. Finally, the assembly of the item of clothing, the balloon filled with air and the skeleton, is placed in a dryer and dried. The combination of the balloon pressing against the item of clothing, the skeleton and the dryer will dry the item of clothing without or with fewer wrinkles. The item of clothing is then removed from the balloon and the next item of clothing is placed over the balloon. The balloon may be slightly or completely deflated if necessary to remove the item of clothing and replace it with the next item of clothing. Multiple assemblies may be placed in the dryer together if they are small enough to fit in the drum, such as those containing shirts, skirts or shorts. 

1. A clothes drying device, comprising: a porous skeleton; and an inflatable balloon placed over said porous skeleton, said inflatable balloon configured to receive a wet item of clothing placed over said inflatable balloon, and said inflatable balloon having an inlet configured to receive air added into said inflatable balloon; said porous skeleton, said inflatable balloon and the wet item of clothing forming an assembly having a size permitting said assembly to be placed entirely into a clothes dryer drum and dried.
 2. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable balloon is formed of latex or polyvinyl chloride.
 3. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton is formed of rigid plastic or plastic-coated wire being resistant to heat produced in a clothes dryer drum and having a multiplicity of openings being permeable to air, and said inflatable balloon is fastened to a bottom of the item of clothing.
 4. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable balloon has an inflation inlet configured to be filled by a pump and a one-way valve preventing an undesired escape of air from said inflatable balloon.
 5. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton has a shape configured to receive a shirt.
 6. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton has a shape configured to receive shorts.
 7. The clothes drying device according to claim 6, wherein said porous skeleton has legs and extensions to be snap-fitted onto said legs for drying long pants.
 8. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton has a shape configured to receive pants.
 9. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton has a shape configured to receive a dress.
 10. The clothes drying device according to claim 9, wherein said porous skeleton has sleeves for drying a short-sleeve dress and extensions to be snap-fitted onto said sleeves for drying a long-sleeve dress.
 11. The clothes drying device according to claim 1, wherein said porous skeleton has a shape configured to receive a skirt.
 12. A method for drying an item of clothing, the method comprising: providing a porous skeleton and an inflatable balloon placed over the porous skeleton; placing a wet item of clothing over the inflatable balloon; adding air through an inlet of the inflatable balloon; and placing an assembly formed of the porous skeleton, the inflatable balloon and the wet item of clothing entirely into a clothes dryer drum; and drying the wet item of clothing over the inflatable balloon and the porous skeleton in the clothes dryer drum.
 13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing the porous skeleton with a shape configured to receive a shirt, shorts, pants, a dress or a skirt as the item of clothing.
 14. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing the porous skeleton with sleeves configured to receive a short-sleeve shirt, and attaching extensions on the sleeves for drying a long-sleeve shirt.
 15. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing the porous skeleton with legs configured to receive shorts as the item of clothing, and attaching extensions on the legs for drying long pants.
 16. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing the porous skeleton with sleeves configured to receive a short-sleeve dress as the item of clothing, and attaching extensions on the sleeves for drying a long-sleeve dress.
 17. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises circulating the air inside the inflatable balloon through openings in the porous skeleton.
 18. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises using a pump to fill the inflatable balloon with the air through an inlet of the inflatable balloon, and using a one-way valve to prevent an undesired escape of air from the inflatable balloon.
 19. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises fastening a bottom of the item of clothing to the balloon and using the air to press the inflatable balloon against an inner surface of the item of clothing.
 20. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises removing the dried item of clothing from the inflatable balloon, placing a further wet item of clothing over the inflatable balloon without deflating the inflatable balloon, and drying the further item of clothing in the dryer drum. 